I personally love fall, but what I don’t love are the sloppy beauty mistakes that tend to arrive with the chillier temperatures. Avoiding the situations below will keep you looking fabulous while exuding professionalism all season long.
-The “Fake and Bake” look: A faux golden glow may have been kosher for summer, but now it just looks garish and unrealistic. Do you think people really believe that you slipped off to Dubai for the weekend? Instead of smearing on the self-tanner, enhance your natural complexion with a luminous powder with just a hint of tint for a healthy, beautiful radiance.
-Dry skin distress: Harsh winds and low temperatures can wreak havoc on our skin, leaving it dry and parched. Moisturize regularly with lotion, coat lips with a healing balm like Carmex (running a toothbrush over your lips also works wonders for removing flakes), and exfoliate regularly. Another trick to try: Before bedtime, coat your hands and feet in heavy layers of rich moisturizing lotion, then slip on cotton gloves and socks (which you can get at most drugstores) and leave them on overnight. You’ll wake up with irresistibly smooth skin!
-Hairy leg syndrome: Women have a tendency to be more lax about shaving their legs during the chilly months because they figure they won’t be flashing bare legs. That’s fine if you plan to wear trousers and tall boots all season, but don’t think you can get away with wearing tights over your hairy legs unnoticed. Either stick with trousers, get back to shaving, or treat yourself to a monthly wax so you don’t have to worry about regular maintenance.
-Flyaway hair: Are those gusts of wind whipping your locks into a frenzy? Consult with your hairstylist to create a manageable ‘do—with the help of hair accessories if necessary—that will hold up to those icy blasts. A weekly deep-conditioning treatment is also great for keeping hair healthy and nourished, while detangler is a must for fighting those rat’s nests that tend to form when your hair rubs against the nape of your coat.
-The overly smokey eye: Smokey eyes are a perennial fall makeup trend, but keep in mind that there’s a time and a place for dramatic peepers. In other words, heavy black-coated lids may look sexy and mysterious at a cocktail party, but they’re not appropriate for the office. Instead, create a more subdued smokey eye with a lighter gray palette or autumnal plums and hunter greens.